Entry 0075

Have I talked about “The Middleman” yet? I can’t remember, nor can I be arsed to double check. Suffice to say that it’s a fun show that I enjoy quite a bit…

Tonight the second episode aired, and it was just as much fun as the first one. But I don’t want to talk about the episode – naw, I’m here to bitch about a commercial that kept airing during the show.

ABCFamily kept airing commercials for some new show called “The Secret life of an American Teenager”… from the makers of 7th Heaven. So, you already know it’s going to be ham-fisted, schlocky and super-conservative. The basics that have been showed so far: A teenage girl makes a “mistake” by having sex, gets knocked up, then has to deal with it…

They make it look like sex is a bad thing, that her being pregnant is something she must survive and endure only with the help of her friends and family… How much you want to bet that the words “abortion” or “morning after pill” are never brought up? That no one even begins to question her lack of using any sort of contraception?

I swear, that kind of television is totally unacceptable and irresponsible! Making sex seem like something that should never be done, that should be feared and kept away from is a horrible, horrible thing. To make it seem like there is nothing that can be done to prevent a pregnancy, or to end one if it’s unwanted and destructive is just false. Hell, the very act of presenting it as a horrible thing to have happen to someone is just mean…

I’m not being coherent right now, and I apologize. I’m a bit tired and out of sorts.
But this much I know: People need to wake the fuck up and start being more reasonable and responsible. Sex is normal, it’s going to happen, and for fucks sake it should do – contraception should be a hell of a lot easier to get at than it currently is, and it should be taught at every fucking chance.

And anyone who portrays pregnancy as a punishment should have their right to reproduce revoked – retroactively if need be.

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2 replies on “Entry 0075”

I would like to agree with you, but I think that’s being overly optimistic. Looking at the format of the show, and the network that it’s on, and the pedigree of the show, I think it’s quite safe to say that there will be no mention of choice, no allowance for debate.

I’m pretty sure the exchange will go something like this:

Girl – Mom, dad… I’ve got something to tell you.
Mom/Dad – Yes?
Girl – I got knocked up.
Dad – We’re very disappointed in you.
Mom – Quite. How could you do such a horrible thing? Your entire life is now wasted and lost!
Dad – But, don’t worry. We’ll make it through this, together.
Girl – Thanks mom and dad.
Mom – I guess we’d better dig out the old crib.

-End-

I’d love to be proven wrong, but I don’t see that happening in this case.

Remember Murphy Brown? The huge uproar that was created when she considered an abortion, but eventually decided to have the kid? That was some damn good TV, that got people thinking and talking…